Nebraska Hockey Mom

Gutzy Gear is a new and unique way for kids to express themselves by transforming a simple backpack into their own statement-making personality pack! The Gutzy Gear strap covers fit around just about any type of backpack, messenger bag, or rolling bag. But the creativity really begins with the super fun and totally custom line of patches called "Gutzies" that kids use to decorate their straps. Because they are removable with a simple tug, and require no sewing or ironing, Gutzies are meant to be swapped, traded, and shared between friends, for a custom look anytime that's as endless as your child's imagination. The great news is that Gutzy Gear is now available in select Bed, Bath and Beyond stores in your area and we want you and your child to be among the first to check it out!   I have to say, my kids and their friends have LOVED Gutzy Gear!  I wasn't really sure how it would rate with the kids in my "circle"....but they have all welcomed Gutz...

As a mother of 2 young in's, 1 tween and 1 teen, I've come to realize that motherhood brings a whole new set of challenges as our kids get older. Sure, those sleepless nights when my children were infants were tough but I'm starting to experience a whole new breed of insomnia!  However, what keeps me up at night most frequently is a worry that I know many parents are facing--the dangers of underage drinking. While I'm confident that I've raised great kids who will make smart decisions, I also know that the statistics are too shocking to ignore; teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 people a year, more than all other illegal drugs combined. Not only that, car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and more than one out of three of those are alcohol-related. And finally one that surprised me the most-one in five teens binge drinks, yet only one in 100 parents think their kids binge drinks. I've always been the kind of parent who believes that open and...